2008 AUDI S4 air condition

Seat belts195
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Important safety instructions for using seat belts
There are a number of safety points concerning the seat
belts which you should remember. This will help to reduce
the risk of injury in an accident.
WARNING
•
The seat belts can only provi de maximum protection if the
seats are adjusted properly ⇒page 73, “Seats and storage”.
•
To ensure proper protection, it is important to wear the seat
belts in the co rrect position ⇒page 197, “How to wear seat belts
properly”. Ensure that the seat belts are worn exactly as recom-
mended in this chapter. Belts wh ich are not worn properly can
increase the risk of injury in accidents considerably.
•
Do not allow the seat belt to be come twisted or jammed, or to
rub on any sharp edges.
•
Never allow two passengers (even children) to share the same
seat belt. It is especially dangerou s to place a seat belt over a child
sitting on your lap.
•
Do not wear the belt over hard or fragile objects (such as
glasses or pens, etc. ) because this can cause injuries.
•
Loose, bulky clothing (such as an overcoat over a jacket)
impairs the proper fit an d function of the belts.
•
The belts must be kept clean, otherwise the retractors may not
work properly ⇒page 250, “Seat belts”.
•
The slot in the seat belt buckle must not be blocked with paper
or other objects, as this can prev ent the latch plate from engaging
properly.
•
The latch plate of the belt mu st always be engaged in the
correct buckle for that seat, ot herwise the belt will not be fully
effective.
•
Check the condition of the seat bel ts at regular intervals. If you
notice that the belt webbing, fi ttings, retractor mechanism or buckle of any of the belts is da
maged, the belt must be replaced
by a qualified workshop.
•
The seat belts must not be remov ed or modified in any way. Do
not attempt to repair a damaged belt yourself.
•
Seat belts which have been worn in an accident and stretched
must be replaced by a qualified workshop. The belt anchorages
should also be checked.
Forces acting in a collisionThe physical principles involved in a frontal impact
Very large forces are generat ed during a collision; these
forces have to be absorbed.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 204 Passengers of
a vehicle which is
headed for a brick wall.
They are not using seat
belts.
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Airbag system203
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Front airbagsDescription of front airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.The front airbag for the driver is located in the padded hub of the
steering wheel ⇒fig. 214. The front airbag for the front passenger
is in the dashboard above the glove box ⇒fig. 215. The locations of
the airbags are marked with the word “AIRBAG”.
In conjunction with the three-point seat belts, the front airbags give
additional head and chest protection for the driver and front
passenger in the event of a severe frontal collision ⇒ in “Impor-
tant safety notes on the front airbag system” on page 204.
How the front airbags work
When fully inflated, the airbags reduce the risk of head or
chest injury.The airbag system is designed so that the airbags for the driver and
front passenger are triggered in a severe frontal collision.
In certain types of accident the front airbags, side airbags and one
of the head-protection airbags may be triggered together.
When the system is triggered, the airbags fill with a propellant gas
and open out in front of the driver and front passenger ⇒fig. 216.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the
airbags have to inflate extremely rapidly (within fractions of a
second). The fully deployed airbags cushion the forwards move-
ment of the front occupants and help to reduce the risk of injury to
the head and the upper part of the body.
Special openings in the airbag allow the gas to escape at a
controlled rate to restrain the fo rward movement of the occupant's
head and torso. Once the impact has been absorbed, the airbag
deflates sufficiently for the front occupants to see forward.
Fig. 214 Driver's
airbag in steering
wheelFig. 215 Front
passenger's airbag in
dashboard
Fig. 216 Front airbags
in inflated condition
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Airbag system205
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Side airbagsDescription of side airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belts.The side airbags are located in the backrest padding of the front
seats ⇒fig. 218. The locations of the airbags are marked with the
word “AIRBAG”.
In conjunction with the three-point seat belts, the side airbags give
the occupants additional protection for the whole upper part of the
body (i.e. the chest, stomach and pelvis) in the event of a severe side
collision ⇒ in “Important safety notes on the side airbag system”
on page 206 .
In a side collision the side airbags reduce the risk of injury to the
areas of the body facing the impact.
If the side airbags are activated, the head-protection airbags (side-
guard system) are always triggered at the same time for additional
protection on the side of th e vehicle facing the impact
⇒ page 207 .
How the side airbags work
When fully inflated, the side airbags reduce the risk of
injuries to the upper part of the body.In certain types of side collisions the side airbags (front and rear*)
are triggered on the impact side of the vehicle ⇒fig. 219.
The front airbags, side airbags and the head-protection airbag may
be triggered together in certain types of accident.
When the system is triggered, the airbag is filled with propellant
gas.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the
airbags have to inflate extremely rapidly (within fractions of a
second). The airbag releases a fine dust when it inflates. This is quite
normal and does not mean there is a fire in the vehicle.
When fully deployed, the airbags cushion the impact for the occu-
pants and help to reduce the risk of injury to the whole upper part
of the body (i.e. the chest, stomach and pelvis) on the side facing the
door.
Fig. 218 Location of
side airbag in driver's
seat
Fig. 219 Side airbags
in inflated condition
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Airbag system207
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Head-protection airbags (sideguard)Description of head-protection airbags
The head-protection airbags work together with the side
airbag system to give extra protection in a side impact.The head-protection airbags are loca ted above the doors on the left
and right sides of the vehicle ⇒page 207, fig. 220. The locations of
the airbags are marked with the word “AIRBAG”.
In conjunction with the three-point seat belts and side airbags, the
head-protection airbags give the occupants additional protection
against head and neck injuries in a severe side collision ⇒ in
“Important safety notes on the head-protection airbags” on
page 208 .
Together with other design features (including cross-braces in the
seats and the overall strength of the body structure), the sideguard
system offers an effective further improvement to occupant protec-
tion in side impacts.
How the head-protection airbags work
When fully inflated, the airbags reduce the risk of head or
chest injury in a side collision.In certain types of side collisions the head-protection airbag is trig-
gered together with the side airbag on the impact side of the vehicle
⇒ fig. 221.
When the system is triggered, the airbag fills with a propellant gas
and covers the entire area in front of the side windows, including
the door pillars. In this way the system is able to protect both the
front and the rear occupants on the side of the vehicle where the
impact occurs. The head-protection airbag inflates to soften the
impact if an occupant strikes parts of the interior or objects outside
the vehicle with their head. By reducing the head impact and
restraining uncontrolled movement of the head, the airbag also
reduces the forces acting on the neck. In addition, since it covers the
front door pillar when fully inflat ed, the head-protection airbag also
gives extra protection if the car shou ld collide with an obstacle at an
oblique angle.
The front airbags, side airbags and head-protection airbags may be
triggered together in certain types of accident.
In order to provide the desired extra protection in an accident, the
airbags have to inflate extremely rapidly (within fractions of a
Fig. 220 Location of
head-protection
airbags above the
doors
Fig. 221 Head-protec-
tion airbags in inflated
condition
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Intelligent technology
222Intelligent technologyElectronic stabilisation program (ESP)DescriptionESP increases the car's stability. It reduces the tendency to skid and
improves the stability and roadhold ing of the vehicle. ESP detects
critical handling situations, such as understeer, oversteer and
wheelspin on the driven wheels. It stabilises the vehicle by braking
individual wheels or by reducing the engine torque. The warning
lamp
 in the instrument cluster starts flashing as soon as the ESP
intervenes.
The ESP incorporates the functions of the anti-lock brake system
(ABS), the traction control system (ASR), the electronic differential
lock (EDL) and the dynamic steering*.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
ABS prevents the wheels from locking up under braking until the
vehicle has reached a virtual standstill. You can continue to steer the
vehicle even when the brakes are on full. Keep your foot on the brake
pedal and do not pump the brakes. You will feel the brake pedal
pulsate while the anti-lock brake system is working.
Brake assist system
The brake assist system can speed up the braking process and
shorten the braking distance. It au tomatically boosts the braking
force if you press the brake pedal quickly in an emergency. On vehi-
cles with adaptive cruise control*, the brake assist system will build
up a small amount of pressure in the hydraulic brake system if it
senses that you are too close to the vehicle in front.
Traction control system (ASR)
In the event of wheelspin, the traction control system reduces the
engine torque to match the amount of grip available. This helps the
car to start moving, accelerate or climb a gradient. Electronic differential lock (EDL)
When the EDL detects wheelspin, it brakes the spinning wheel and
directs the power to the other driven wheel (or wheels on quattro*
versions). This function is active up to about 100 km/h.
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel from overheating, the
EDL cuts out automatically if subjected to excessive loads. The
vehicle can still be driven. The EDL will switch on again automati-
cally when the brake has cooled down.
Dynamic steering*
On vehicles with dynamic steering*, the ESP can also intervene in
the steering to stabilise the vehicle in critical situations.
WARNING
•
The grip provided by the ESP,
ABS, ASR, EDL and dynamic
steering* systems is still subject to the physical limits of adhesion.
Always bear this in mind, especia lly on wet or slippery roads. If
you notice the systems cutting in , you should reduce your speed
immediately to suit the road and traffic conditions. Do not let the
extra safety provided tempt you into taking any risks when driving
– this can cause accidents.
•
Please remember that the acciden t risk always increases if you
drive fast, especially in corners or on a slippery road, or if you
follow too close behind th e vehicle in front of you. Please bear in
mind that even ESP, ABS, brak e assist, EDL, ASR and dynamic
steering* cannot compensate for the increased accident risk.
•
When accelerating on a uniformly slippery surface (for instance
all four wheels on ice or snow), pr ess the accelerator gradually and
carefully. The driven wheels may ot herwise start to spin (in spite
of the integrated control systems), which would impair the car's
stability and could lead to an accident.
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Intelligent technology227
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
current even when the ignition is off. In some cases there may not
be enough power available to start the engine.
Your vehicle is equipped with an intelligent power management
system to control the distribution of electrical energy. This signifi-
cantly improves reliability when starting the engine, and also
prolongs the life of the battery.
The main functions incorporated in the power management system
are
battery diagnosis , residual current management and dynamic
power management .
Battery diagnosis
The battery diagnosis function constantly registers the condition of
the battery. Sensors detect the ba ttery voltage, battery current and
battery temperature. This enables the system to calculate the
current power level and charge condition of the battery.
Residual current management
The residual current management reduces power consumption
while the vehicle is parked. It controls the supply of power to the
various electrical components while the ignition is switched off. The
system takes the battery diagnosis data into consideration.
Depending on the power level of the battery, the individual electrical
components are switched off one after the other to prevent the
battery from losing too much charge and to ensure that the engine
can be started reliably.
Dynamic power management
While the vehicle is moving, this function distributes the available
power to the various electrical components and systems according
to their requirements. The power management ensures that on-
board systems do not consume more electrical power than the
alternator can supply, and thus maintains the maximum possible
battery power level.
Note
•
The power management system is not able to overcome the
given physical limits. Please remember that the power and life of
the battery are limited.
•
A warning message will appear ⇒page 228, “Driver message in
the instrument cluster display” if the battery power has dropped to
a level where reliable starting is impaired.
Points to remember
Starting ability has first priority.Short trips, city traffic and low te mperatures all place a heavy load
on the battery. In these conditions a large amount of power is
consumed, but only a small amount is supplied. The situation is also
critical if electrical equipment is in use when the engine is not
running. In this case power is consumed when none is being gener-
ated.
In these situations you will be aware that the power management
system is intervening to control the distribution of electrical power.
When the vehicle is parked for long periods
If you do not drive your vehicle for a period of several days or weeks,
the power management will gr adually shut off the on-board
systems one by one, or reduce the amount of current they are using.
This limits the amount of power consumed and helps to ensure reli-
able starting even after a long period.
Please note that certain convenience features, such as the Audi
advanced key*, the remote control key or the electrical seat adjust-
ment may not be available when yo u unlock the vehicle. These func-
tions will be restored when you switch on the ignition and start the
engine.
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Your vehicle and the environment231
Controls
Safety
Driving tips
General maintenance
Self-help
Technical data
Save electrical energy
The engine drives the alternator to generate electricity. This means
that fuel consumption rises when more power is required for elec-
trical equipment. Switch off electrical equipment when it is not
needed. Electrical equipment which uses a lot of electricity includes
the blower (at a high se
tting), the rear window heating and the seat
heating*.
Environmental compatibilityEnvironmental protection is a top priority in the design, choice of
materials and production of your new Audi.
Design measures for economical recycling•
Joints and connections designed for ease of dismantling
•
Modular construction to facilitate dismantling
•
Increased use of single-grade materials
•
Plastic parts and elastomers are labelled in accordance with ISO
1043, ISO 11469 and ISO 1629
Choice of materials
•
Nearly all materials used can be recycled
•
Similar types of plastics grouped together for easy recycling
•
Recycled materials used in manufacture
•
Reduced vapour emissions from plastics
•
CFC-free refrigerant in air conditioner
Compliance with the laws prohibiting the use of : Cadmium,
asbestos, lead, mercury and chrome VI.
Manufacturing methods
•
Using recycling material for manufacturing plastic parts
•
Solvent-free cavity sealing
•
Solvent-free wax for protecting the vehicles in transit
•
Solvent-free adhesives
•
No CFCs used in production
•
Surplus materials used extensively for energy conversion and
building materials
•
Overall water consumption reduced
•
Heat recovery systems
•
Water-soluble paint
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Care of vehicle and cleaning
246Plastic partsPlastic parts will come clean with regular washing. If this is not suffi-
cient, plastic parts should only be treated with a special solvent-free
plastic cleaning agent . Do not use paint cleaners, polishes or wax on
plastic parts.Paint damageMinor damage to the paint, such as scratches or stone chips, should
be touched up without delay before the metal starts to corrode. Suit-
able touch-up brushes or sprays for your car can be obtained from
an Audi dealer.
The number of the original paint finish on the vehicle is given on the
data sticker ⇒page 321 .
If corrosion is already visible it must be thoroughly removed by a
qualified workshop.Windows
Clear vision is an es sential safety factor.The windscreen must not be cleaned with insect remover or wax,
otherwise the windscreen wipers will not function properly
(juddering).
Traces of rubber, oil, grease or silicone can be removed with a
window cleaning solution or a silicone remover . Wax residue can
only be removed with a special cleaner. Your Audi dealer will be able
to provide you with more detailed information.
The windows should also be cleaned on the inside at regular inter-
vals.
Use a separate cloth or chamois to dry the windows. Cloths used for
waxing and polishing contain residues that will cause smears on the
glass.
WARNING
Do not use water-repellent coatings on the windscreen. In bad visi-
bility conditions such as light rain, low sun or when driving at
night these coatings can cause increased dazzle, which is a
serious safety hazard. Such coat ings can also cause the wiper
blades to judder.
Caution
•
Remove snow and ice from windows and mirrors with a plastic
scraper only. To avoid scratches caused by dirt on the glass, the
scraper should only be pushed in one direction and not moved to
and fro.
•
The heating element for the rear window is located on the inner
side of the window. To avoid damaging the heating element, do not
put stickers on the inner side of the window.
•
Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from
windows and mirrors. This could cause the glass to crack!
Rubber seals (weatherstrips)The weatherstrips will remain pliable and last longer if they are
occasionally treated with a suitable care product (for example sili-
cone spray). This will also preve nt premature ageing and leaks. The
doors will be easier to open as well. If they are kept pliable, the door
seals will be less likely to freeze up in the winter.WheelsThe wheels require regular attention to preserve their appearance.
It is important to remove road salt and brake dust by washing the
wheels at regular intervals, otherwise the finish will be impaired.
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